SHENLEY Conservation Area Appraisal 2012 CONTENTS Part 1 Conservation Area Character Appraisal Page No. 1.0 INTRODUCTION 3 · Background 3 · Definition of Special Interest 5 2.0 LOCATION AND SETTING 6 · Location 6 · Boundaries 6 · Topography 6 · Geology 7 · Archaeology 7 3.0 THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE VILLAGE 9 4.0 SURVIVING HISTORICAL FEATURES WITHIN THE CONSERVATION AREA 12 · Street pattern 12 5.0 THE CHARACTER AND APPEARANCE OF THE CONSERVATION AREA 13 · Current activities and uses 13 · Focal points, views and vistas 13 · Open spaces, landscape and trees 14 · Public realm: floorscape, street furniture etc 15 6.0 CHARACTER AREAS · Identification of character areas 16 7.0 THE BUILDINGS OF THE CONSERVATION AREA 24 · Architectural styles and detailing 25 · Listed buildings 26 · Locally listed buildings 26 · Other buildings 26 8.0 NEGATIVE FEATURES AND ISSUES 28 · Inappropriate alterations to buildings 27 · Negative buildings & areas 27 · Intrusive traffic 28 · Signage 28 · Inappropriate landscaping 29 · Neutral buildings 29 Part 2 Conservation and Management Proposals 1.0 BOUNDARY REVIEW & CONSULTATION 30 · New buildings 31 · Buildings at Risk 31 . Locally Listed Buildings – proposed additions 31 BEAMS Ltd is the trading company of the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust. Reg No.2792915 The Castle, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HR 1 · Monitoring and review 32 · Public consultation 32 2.0 PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK 33 Bibliography 34 Further Information 35 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Statutory Listed Buildings within Shenley Conservation Area Appendix 2: Locally Listed Buildings within Shenley Conservation Area Appendix 3: Other buildings that make a positive contribution to Shenley Conservation Area Appendix 4: Buildings subject to Article 4 Directions Appendix 5: Buildings in London Road extension LIST OF MAPS Map A. Shenley Conservation Area, showing the extent of the current boundary Map B. Map of Hertsmere Borough Map C. Previous changes to the boundary of the conservation area Map D. Shenley Conservation Area Character Areas Map E. Character Area 1 (London Road), assessment map Map F. Character Area 2 (Rectory Lane / Mimms Lane), assessment map Map G. Character Area 3 (Porters Park / Former Hospital Site), assessment map LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Extract from the Dury and Andrews map of 1766 Figure 2. Extract from the 1843 Tithe Map of Shenley showing the village (Shenley Hill) and Porters Park to the northwest Figure 3. Extract from the 1881 Ordnance Survey map of Shenley village centred upon the green Figure 4. Extract from the 1935 Ordnance Survey map of Shenley village Figure 5. Focal points, vistas and views Figure 5. Focal points, vistas and views Figure 6. The former Queen Adelaide Public House next to the pond Figure 7. Rectory Lane. Small-scale workshop building Figure 8. 1969 and 2011 Figure 9. Pound Lane 1969 and 2011 Figure 10. A Locally Listed building, 11 Harris Lane Figure 11. The Black Lion Public House Figure 12. Inappropriate additions to rear of The Black Lion Figure 13. Unattractive shop front Figure 14. Unsatisfactory recent development Figure 15. Condition of outbuilding next to The Black Lion Figure 16. Houses in London Road extension Figure 17. The Cage on the Pond Cover photograph: Entrance to the village from the south-east. BEAMS Ltd is the trading company of the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust. Reg No.2792915 The Castle, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HR 2 Part 1 Conservation Area Character Appraisal 1.0 INTRODUCTION Background 1.1 This appraisal was conducted to define the special interest of Shenley Conservation Area in order to help preserve and enhance its character, and to provide a basis for making sustainable decisions about its future. It also included a review of the current conservation area boundary. 1.2 It was carried out for Hertsmere Borough Council during 2010/11 by BEAMS, part of the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust. It draws on an earlier appraisal prepared by BEAMS in 2000 but not published. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior permission of Hertsmere Borough Council. 1.3 Following public consultation on proposals in the draft Appraisal, several further alterations have been made to the conservation area boundary in June 2012 (Map A). Ashmeads Court, Pursley Farm House & barns, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 15A London Road are now included within the conservation area; and all properties in Juniper Gardens, Rowan Close, Mulberry Gardens, Hazel Court, Whitebeam Close, 22 Andrew Close, 29 Pippin Close, 6 Wickets End, “The Gateways” Radlett Lane and “The Dell” Radlett Lane were removed from the conservation area. 1.4 Shenley Conservation was first designated in 1969. The Area includes the linear extent of Shenley Village either side of the London Road; land to the east along Rectory and Harris Lanes up to Shenley Hill; and to the west, land beside Radlett Lane comprising 40 acres of the former hospital site. The conservation area divides into these three distinct character areas. 1.5 A conservation area is defined in the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as “an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.” 1.6 Section 71 of the same Act requires local planning authorities to from time to time formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of these conservation areas. Section 72 also specifies that, in making a decision on an application for development in a conservation area, special attention should be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of that area. 1.7 Part 1 of this appraisal highlights the special qualities and features that underpin the conservation area and justify its designation. Guidelines provided in Part 2 (“Management Proposals”) are designed to prevent harm and encourage enhancement. This type of assessment conforms to English Heritage guidance and to Government advice. It also supports and amplifies those policies aimed at protecting the overall character of conservation areas forming part of Hertsmere Borough Council's Local Plan. BEAMS Ltd is the trading company of the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust. Reg No.2792915 The Castle, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HR 3 BEAMS Ltd is the trading company of the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust. Reg No.2792915 The Castle, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HR 4 June 2012. June th as of 8 of as ) extent of the current boundary (outlined in red in (outlined boundary current the of extent Base Ordnance Survey map provided by Hertsmere Borough Council 2011 Council Borough Hertsmere by provided map Survey Ordnance Base Shenley Conservation Area, showing the the showing Area, Conservation Shenley Map Map A. BEAMS Ltd is the trading company of the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust. Reg No.2792915 The Castle, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HR 5 Definition of Special Interest 1.8 Shenley Conservation Area is based on still recognisable traces of a hamlet and its rural setting in the form of the original core of the village and its gradual expansion in the linear form of London Road, which continues to form the spine of the village. Its relationship with the surrounding countryside and nearby rural estates is represented in a rural arm to the east and west of London Road, elements of the Shenley Grange estate. 1.9 The north-west area, the park land encompasses Porters Park and elements of the former hospital - although most of the former hospital buildings were demolished and replaced with housing. BEAMS Ltd is the trading company of the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust. Reg No.2792915 The Castle, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HR 6 2.0 LOCATION AND SETTING Location 2.1 Shenley is located north of Borehamwood and east of Radlett within the M25 motorway belt in Hertfordshire. It falls within Hertsmere District Council local authority area. Map B. Map of Hertsmere Borough (courtesy of Hertsmere Borough Council) Boundaries 2.2 As a result of extensions of its boundaries, Shenley Conservation Area is now more diverse in form and character than when originally designated in 1969 by Herts County Council. It was extended in 1978 (taking in New Road, Cage Pond Road and part of Harris Lane) and again (to the east and west as detailed above) by Hertsmere Borough Council, following public consultation, in July 1988 (Map C). 2.3 The draft appraisal recommended several alterations to the conservation area boundary. Public consultation on the draft appraisal took place over a six-week period from 14th November to 9th January 2011. Following consideration of responses to the consultation, the changes were approved by the Council’s Planning and Localism Portfolio Holder on the 8th June 2012 (Map C). Topography 2.4 Shenley Conservation Area currently comprises the village of Shenley (London Road and Rectory Lane) and to the north-west, Porters Park (Radlett Lane). The village stands upon the plateau of a hill, Shenley Ridge, at 130 metres above sea level and extends southwards along London Road from its junction with Radlett Lane and Rectory Lane. Shenley Ridge is relatively consistent in height running south-west to BEAMS Ltd is the trading company of the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust. Reg No.2792915 The Castle, Hertford, Herts SG14 1HR 7 north-east between Radlett and Redwell Woods, south of the Vale of St Albans; its slope appears prominent against the open St Albans Vale (Website 3). 2.5 The predominant land-uses within Shenley village are residential with some small- scale commercial, religious, educational, and out-door leisure. At the north end of the village, two public houses and housing occupies the triangular area bounded by London Road, Rectory Lane and Pound Lane along with a pond and an 18th century lock-up at its southern tip.